Ball with an improved bladder carcass securely engaging with multiple cover panels

ABSTRACT

A ball includes multiple cover panels respectively multiple ribs protruded on a bladder carcass so as to define a panel recess between two adjacent ribs. Each rib has a first step and a second step respectively formed on a side face of the rib such that a first receiving space to receive therein the cushion and a second receiving space in communication with the first receiving space to receive therein the cover panel are defined between the two adjacent ribs. Engagement of the cushion and the cover panel to the bladder carcass is enhanced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ball, and more particularly to a ball with an improved bladder carcass that securely engages with multiple cover panels.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional basketball generally comprises a spherical bladder carcass, a reinforcing lining layer enclosed in the bladder carcass and a spherical cover made of leather or synthetic leather such as polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and enclosing the bladder carcass. However, the basketball provides a strong resilient force when used so that a person playing the basketball feels painful when passing or shooting the basketball.

Another conventional basketball has been developed to improve the softness. The improved basketball has a bladder carcass made of foamed or sponged rubber and a spherical cover attached to the bladder carcass. The rubber bladder carcass provides fine softness, yet has a loose structure so that the attachment between the bladder carcass and the cover slack and unfirm.

Another conventional basketball is also designed to improve the softness and has a thickened cover attached to the bladder carcass. The cover has a thickness about 1.7-1.9 mm larger than that of the cover of the conventional basketball being about 1.3-1.5 so that the basketball is able to provide fine softness. However, the thickened cover has a high cost.

In order to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional basketball, a further improved basketball is introduced to the market, which is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, and includes a spherical bladder carcass (30) which is a hollow rubber ball having a reinforcing lining layer (301) enclosed therein and a valve stem (21) affixed thereto. The bladder carcass (30) has a plurality of projection ribs (31) integrally protruded and extended thereon to define eight leaf shape panel recesses (32) surrounded by the ribs (31).

The basketball (20) further comprises eight leaf shaped cover panels (40) adapted to adhere in the eight panel recesses (32) respectively. Each of the cover panels (40) comprises a cover layer (41) made of leather or synthetic leather. According to the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the synthetic leather made cover layer (41) is composed of an outer coating layer (411) and an inner lining layer (412) integrally attached and supported under the outer coating layer (411). Each of the cover panels (40) further comprises an additional cushion layer (42) made of foam material having a top surface (421) integrally adhered to the lining layer (412) and a bottom surface (422) for adhering a lining cloth (43) thereto.

As shown in FIG. 8, to attach each of the cover panels (40) in the respective panel recess (32), the cover panel (40) is first placed on a bottom surface (320) of the panel recess (32), wherein the lining cloth (43) is adhered to the bottom surface (320). At that moment, the vertical covering side edges (413) of the cover layer (41) is in contact with the sides (311) of the ribs (31) around the panel recess (32), so that the covering side edges (413) of the leather made or synthetic leather made cover layer (41) can be fittingly well adhered with the sides (311) of the ribs (31). However, the basketball surface structure still can not provide complete engagement between the cover panel (40) and the bottom face defining the panel recess (32) because the side face of each cover panel (40) engages with the sidewalls surrounding the panel recess (32). The adhesion between the lining cloth (43) connect with the bottom face defining the panel recess (32) is weak. Furthermore, the cushion layer (42) and the lining cloth (43) share a limited sidewall of the rib (31). Consequently, the cover panels (40) will still fall out of the panel recesses (32) after a period of time of using the basketball.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a ball with an improved bladder carcass securely engaging with multiple cover panels to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a ball with an improved bladder carcass that securely engages with multiple cover panels to prolong life span of the ball.

In one aspect of the present invention, the bladder carcass of the ball includes multiple protruded ribs and multiple cushions. Each rib has a first and second step respectively formed on two opposed side faces of the rib so as to define between two adjacent ribs a panel recess. The cushion is attached respectively to the first step in the panel recess. The cover panel is adhered respectively the second step in the panel recesses. The cushion has a width substantially the same as that of the first step of the panel recess and the cover panel has a width substantially the same as that of the second step of the panel recess so that the cover panel and the cushion respectively engage independently with a sidewall of the corresponding rib. Thus engagement between the bladder carcass, cushion and the cover panels is enhanced.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of the ball constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded cross sectional view showing the cover panel, the cushion and the corresponding panel recess;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the combination between the cover panel, the cushion and the panel recess;

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross sectional view showing a different embodiment of the cover panel, the cushion and the corresponding panel recess;

FIG. 5 is an exploded cross sectional view showing that the cushion is placed inside the panel recess to be surrounded by a sidewall of the first step defining the panel recess;

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of a conventional basketball;

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded sectional view of a conventional basketball; and

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the conventional basketball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, it is noted that the ball in accordance with the present invention includes a bladder carcass (10) having multiple protruded ribs (11) and multiple cushions (62).

The ribs (11) are formed on a surface of the bladder carcass (10). Each side of the rib (11) has two steps, i.e. the first step (111) and the second step (112), such that a panel recess (12) is defined between two adjacent ribs (11). Due to the definition of the first step (111) and the second step (112), the panel recess (12) is divided into a first receiving space (13) and a second receiving space (14) in communication with the first receiving space (13) between two adjacent ribs (11).

The cushions (62) are securely attached respectively in the first receiving spaces (13) in the panel recesses (12) and each cushion (62) has a width substantially the same as that of the first receiving space (13).

Further, multiple cover panels (61) are provided respectively to the bladder carcass (10), are adhered respectively in the second receiving spaces (14) in the panel recesses (12) and each cover panel (61) has a width substantially the same as that of the second receiving space (14).

With reference to FIG. 3, the peripheral side face defining the shape of the cushion (62) completely engages with a sidewall defining the first receiving space (13) before the cover panel (61) is placed on top of a corresponding one of the panel recesses (12) first. Next, a peripheral side face defining the shape of the cover (61) completely engages with a sidewall defining the second receiving space (14) to complete the installation of the cover panel (61). Because the shape of the cushion (62) corresponds to that of the first receiving space (13) and the shape of the cover panel (61) corresponds to that of the second receiving space (14), the cushion (62) and the cover panel (61) are snugly received in the first receiving space (13) and the second receiving space (14).

With ribs (11) on the bladder carcass (10), the ball manufacturer is able to use different cushions as required to meet different requirements. Furthermore, because of the respective engagement of the cushion (62) and the cover panel (61) to the sidewall of the first receiving space (13) as well as the side face of the first step (111) and of the second receiving space (14) as well as the side face of the second step (112), adhesion of the cover panel (61) to the bladder carcass (10) is enhanced.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, it is noted that in this preferred embodiment, the basic structure of the panel recess (12) as well as the cover panel (61) is the same as that described in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The only difference therebetween is that the first step (111) and the second step (112) are inclined relative to the bottom face defining the panel recess (12) so that when the cover panel (61) is fitted into the panel recess (12), both the cushion (62) and the cover panel (61) are tightly compressed by the inwardly inclined first step (111) and the second step (112).

As shown in FIG. 5, it is noted that due to the elasticity of the cushion (62), a smooth top surface is provided to the cover panel (61) even after the cushion (62) is firstly received in the first receiving space (13). Besides, the manufacturer is able to use the inclined first step (111) to receive therein variations of the cushions (62) to meet different requirements.

In view of above, the present invention provides a ball having a plurality of cover panels each of which comprising an additional cushion attached to the conventional cover panel, so as to construct a ball not only retaining the original characteristic of durable, hardness and toughness but also containing new characteristics of enhanced engagement between the cover panel and the bladder carcass. It is worth to mention that the ball of the present invention is more durable and has a softer feeling to reduce the impact pain during ball dribbling, passing and shooting, and is especially suitable for children, training players and amateur players.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A ball comprising: multiple cover panels; multiple cushions; and multiple ribs protruded on a bladder carcass so as to define a panel recess between two adjacent ribs, each panel recess having a shape the same as that of a corresponding one of the cover panels, each rib having a first step and a second step respectively formed on each side face of the rib such that a first receiving space to receive therein the cushion and a second receiving space in communication with the first receiving space to receive therein the cover panel are defined between the two adjacent ribs and the cushion is able to engage with a bottom face defining the panel recess as well as a sidewall defining the first receiving space and the cover panel is able to engage with a bottom face and a sidewall of the second receiving space so that engagement of the cushion and the cover panel to the bladder carcass is enhanced.
 2. The ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sidewall of the first receiving space and the sidewall of the second receiving space are inclined relative to the bottom defining the panel recess so as to secure engagement of the cushion and of the cover panel to the bladder carcass.
 3. The ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushion has a width substantially the same as that of the first receiving space and the cover panel has a width substantially the same as that of the second receiving space.
 4. The ball as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cushion has a width substantially the same as that of the first receiving space and the cover panel has a width substantially the same as that of the second receiving space. 